In two summer windows under Jose Mourinho, Manchester United fans saw the arrival of some world-class players. Last year it was the veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic, United’s prodigal son Paul Pogba, talented defender Eric Bailly and the mischievous playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan. This year, in the beginning of the summer, Mourinho outlined the need for four more players; a striker, a winger, a defensive midfielder and another centre back.
The striker came in the form of Romelu Lukaku from Everton. The centre-back was the stylish defender from Benfica, Victor Lindelof and the midfielder was from Jose’s ex-club Chelsea, Serbian powerhouse Nemanja Matic.
Only a deal was left for a winger and Mourinho would be done in the market. However, the inflated market was no place to strike easy deals and with prices rocketing up for every player, United was left one player short on the wings. The problem of having a winger short was dismissed initially in the season, however.
United began the season in fine fashion banging in goals left, right and centre. With Lukaku unable to stop scoring, Mkhitaryan assisting every time he touched the ball and Pogba providing the boom, United looked invincible. Add to that the illustrious dribbling and pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial and Old Trafford was rocking.
Things have fallen off the pace somewhat since and although the Red Devils are still happily chipping their way through, there is certain lack of style from what is expected at Old Trafford.
It is in this light, that there has been the talk of United needing that talked about winger they failed to land in the summer. United product Andreas Pereira who was sent out on loan in the summer to Valencia has played some impressive games for the Spanish outfit and helped the team to a healthy position in the league was a possibility for Jose to access. However, now with the deal for Alexis Sanchez almost done, Mourinho will no longer need to exercise his call back option for the youngster.
“They’re playing in a totally different system than us and he plays in a position that we don’t have,” he said. “We will need an update in relation to that.
“But the experience he’s having, playing in a good competition, in a good club, in a difficult club because it’s a club with a big fanbase, with pressure around, I think is an amazing experience for him and we are happy to let him (stay) there.”
The youngster is at a crucial stage of his career and will want to play regularly to develop something he won’t be guaranteed at Old Trafford. He would desperately want to keep a hold of his current form and not returning to Manchester so fast might be the best solution for everyone involved.
